The majority of us would concur that being among animals helps elevate mood and lessen feelings of loneliness. But even the most ardent animal lovers might be dubious about how beneficial our canine companions can be when it comes to treating major mental health conditions like addiction and co-occurring psychiatric illnesses. Nevertheless, a lot of reputable addiction treatment centers now include pet therapy due to its rising popularity.
Therapy Cats
While cats can’t be trained to perform rescue tasks or serve in other capacities like dogs can, they are excellent at providing calm companionship. Kitty likes it, especially on his cheeks, chin, and head because it makes him think of what his mother used to do. Even a little period of petting him causes the release of “feel good” hormones in humans and decreases the stress hormone cortisol. Listening to a cat purr is also relaxing. He purrs for a variety of reasons, but we often associate it with a cat’s contentment as humans, which increases our happiness. Two particular things are necessary for using cats as therapy animals. Animal therapy has positive effects on a variety of mental health issues in addition to elevating mood in general. Interacting with animals can help lessen feelings of stress and anxiety because of their calming effects. People have also noted that being with a furry, feathered, or even scaly friend lessens feelings of boredom and loneliness. Additionally, being among animals can help people escape from unpleasant feelings and experience less pain.
Therapy Dogs
The basic objective of therapy dogs is to offer those in need psychological support. They accomplish this by being amiable and laid-back, traits that often uplift others. They should not be confused with service dogs, which are educated to interact with just one person and carry out specific responsibilities. There are many advantages to using therapy dogs in schools, according to study. Therapy dogs assist in calming upset or sobbing students. They boost the building’s mood all around. Additionally, studies have shown that they improve social skills, lower blood pressure, raise dopamine and serotonin levels, and boost reading confidence. The presence of the therapy dog may aid a child in regaining attention and calming down when they are distressed. Therapists can take patients for walks to chat to them if they are really disturbed. Therapy dogs have generally been proved to reduce any self-doubt that some children may experience. They are truly calmer during exams and feel more capable of taking chances for the dogs.
Animal therapy frequently facilitates social relationships because it allows patients to form bonds with other pet owners or other participants in activities. Making a connection with an animal can also foster a sense of social support, making a person feel less alone. Additionally, this can aid in the growth of social support abilities that may benefit them in other spheres of their lives. Animals cannot speak, so it is frequently required to develop new means of communication and analyze their behavior. This entails learning new communication techniques or figuring out what their actions might indicate.
Animal therapy may be prescribed and delivered by medical professionals or mental health professionals for a variety of diseases, depending on the individual’s needs. If you decide to have a pet, bear in mind that during their first year of life they also need a lot of care and patience, not to mention that dogs also need to be trained. You cannot simply convince them to take advantage of pet therapy and then believe that taking care of them would be hassle-free. Pets are living things that love to give love but also require love.
